First successful use of exoskeleton in South African rescue - IOL

Saturday night marked the first time the device has been deployed on a rescue in South Africa.

South Africa’s first exoskeleton-assisted rescue ended with a 47-year-old mother walking off Table Mountain on her own feet.

Supervised by Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), this landmark operation marks the first use of this innovative technology in a South African rescue mission.

On Saturday, September 26, 2026, she and her family had climbed Platteklip Gorge. By the time they reached the top, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway had closed. Daylight was fading, and they faced a long descent.

They called Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) before setting off down the gorge. A small team, including a Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedic, headed up to meet them.

When the rescuers reached the family, the mother was exhausted and struggling to continue.

The team fitted her with a lightweight, battery-powered exoskeleton worn around the hips and thighs; its primary role is to assist the wearer’s natural movement, adding power to each step.

“Once it was fitted, her steps became steadier, and her confidence grew,” WSAR said. With rescuers beside her, she continued down the mountain.

“In this incident, the exoskeleton allowed an exhausted hiker to walk down the mountain with assistance, rather than requiring a stretcher evacuation,” WSAR told IOL.

The family was safely off the mountain shortly after 11pm.

Saturday’s deployment showed how an exoskeleton could help a patient whose exhaustion made it difficult to descend and provided the rescue team with evidence that assisted walking is safe.

As the number of incidents continues to increase, "finding new ways to make each deployment efficient and sustainable is becoming increasingly important,” WSAR said.

“Here, an exoskeleton provided another way to help someone off the mountain without committing more people and equipment that would be needed for a stretcher evacuation,” WSAR said.

“We need to ensure that our teams can continue to respond effectively without unnecessarily committing large numbers of rescuers and resources to incidents that can be safely resolved with the right technology and approach,” WSAR explained.

Cape Town showing off below. Not a bad view to walk down to.

The decision about which approach is right still belongs to the rescuers assessing the person and the conditions in front of them.

The family’s call was critical to Saturday’s outcome. They phoned WSAR (021 937 0300) beforehand.